COIN COLLECTOR's ABBREVIATIONS

and Acronyms Section

Here you can
look up those abbreviations that coin dealers and experts are using.
Find out the meanings by clicking on the links below.

Ideal for beginning
coin collectors and experienced numismatists. We think you will
find these lists helpful in learning the lingo of the coin collecting
hobby.

Abbreviations starting with letters

A-B-C-D

Ag

- elemental abbreviation for SILVER

AE

-American Eagle silver, gold, and platinum gold coins
released by the US government starting in Oct. 1986. Front (obverse)
depicts Liberty walking and reverse side bears an American Eagle
and nest design. Produced in both Uncirculated and Proof
conditions. The silver coins are often called
Silver Eagles, gold coins often called
Gold Eagles, and Platinum are called Platinum eagles.

- American Numismatic Associationthe most popular nonprofit
educational coin collectors organization in America. Encourages
the study of numismatics;
collecting of money. The American Numismatic Association
headquarters and national 'Money Museum' are located in Colorado
Springs, CO. Often called the A.N.A.

ANACS

- American Numismatic Association Certification Service.
This grading and certification service certifies coins as
genuine, grades, and encapsulates them.
One of the original grading services. Has now changed ownership
and is no longer under the direction of the American Numismatic
Association (ANA).

ANS

- American Numismatic Society another nonprofit educational
organization of coin collectors and dealers. Established prior
to the civil war it promotes the study of coin collecting,
numismatics. Often
called the A.N.S.

ASE

- American Silver
Eagle dollar coin. The American Silver Eagles, sometime called
Silver Eagles and feature the Walking Liberty design on the obverse
(front) and an Eagle design on the reverse (back). ASE's, sometimes
called SE's for short, were first minted by the US government mint
in 1986 and have been minted each year since. Each coin
contains one ounce of 99.9% solid silver. They normally trade
at a premium above the silver market, with some years, mint marks,
and proof qualities bringing a price premium.

AU

- About or almost uncirculated - a coin or paper money note that
is very close to being uncirculated. Upon first glance it may appear
un-circulated. When inspected closely it will have a slight amount
of wear or friction. Same as "About
Uncirculated". Sometimes abbreviated as "AU", or "A Unc".

BN or BR

- abbreviation for Brown. A natural common color for copper
coins.

BU

-
Brilliant Uncirculated. A coin grading term that indicates a coin
has no wear, has never been exposed to circulation, and shows a
surface brilliance as that of a newly minted coin. Such mint state
coins will fall between MS60 and MS70 on the coin grading scale.

BEP

- Bureau of Engraving and Printing United States government
agency that produces paper money for the U.S. and some other
countries.

- chop marks - marks
or characters stamped into previously made coins. Often found on
silver trade dollars and other precious metal coins. When coins were
used for trading purposes a oriental assayer would test a piece of
the coin for purity. If it met his approval he would stamp his mark
into the coin indicating to others it was pure and accurate weight.
Today some collectors specialize in "Chop marked" coins. However,
for many coins the chop marks may hurt the value.

circ

- circulated or circulating coins used in commerce to purchase
items. A circulated coin is one that has been used one time or
often more. Coins that have any kind of wear from handling, etc are
also considered circulated.

commem

- commemorative. A special issued coin or medal issued to honor
an outstanding person, place, or event. Often one time or short
lived production. Many times commemorative coins are not produced
for general circulation.

CN

- Copper-Nickel or Cupro-Nickel. A metal alloy of 88% copper
and 12% nickel. This alloy was used for US Flying Eagle and
Indian cents from 1856 to the middle of 1864. The alloy caused
these small cents to have a pale copper color. Back then people
called these cents "white cents" because of their pale color. A
few other countries have used some copper nickel alloys of
various percentages in their coin production. "Cupro-nickel" is
a similar term. See "cupro nickel".

D

- mintmark used to designate that the coin was struck at the US
mint in "Denver Colorado". Between 1838 and the civil war the "D"
mint mark was used by the US mint in Dahlonega Georgia.